Expandable hinge weir



May 2, i196? c, A. som/ERS EXPANDAELEHINGE WEIR Filed Sep.. 17, 1962 @E Em s fm M ,n /lw M Q Y M B M uw g.

United States Patent O 3,316,934 EXPANDABLE HINGE WEIR Charles A. Sowers, 6318 Denny Ave., North Hollywood, Calif. 91686 Filed Sept. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 224,156 9 Claims. (Cl. 137-578) This invention relates to swimming pools and more particularly to an improved weir assembly for a swimming pool.

In present art swimming pools, the skimming of debris from the surface of the water in the pool is accomplished by a weir assembly which is pivotally secured to a hinge. The hinge in turn is typically fxedly secured to the upper surface of a ledge which forms one of the walls of a pocket communicating with the pool proper.

Most of the present art Weirs as hereinabove mentioned employ a screw type hinge which presents installation problems'for the pool contractor. In addition, their replace-ment by a pool serviceman is usually attendant with some difficulty and therefore additional cost to the pool owner. In addition, such weirs include metal parts which are not always impervious to the pool water and the chemicals which are added thereto.

The present invention weir assembly overcomes all of these shortcomings. It is impervious to pool chemicals and the high buoyancy afforded yby its design together with the free swinging pivot arrangement serves to insure a high surface tension draw to improve the skimming action desired.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved weir assembly for a swimming pool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a weir assembly which is integral with the weir plate.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a Weir assembly which is easily installed and removed.

Yet another object of the present `invention is to provide a weir assembly which is pivotally secured between opposed walls of a Skimmer pocket communicating with the pool.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a Weir assembly including an expandable rod on which the weir plate is adapted to pivot.

The novel features which are believed to be charac- `teristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a perspective View showing a rweir assembly in accordance with the presently preferred embodiment of this invention installed within a skim-'mer pocket communicating with a side wall of a swimming pool;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged along line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded assembly view in perspective of the weir assembly of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of a pivot assembly in accordance with an alternate embodiment of this invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial view similar to that of FIGURE 3 of another alternate embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a fragmentary perspective view of a side wall of cross-sectional view taken a conventional swimming pool. dicular to the coping 12 which forms the perimeter of the pool. A conventional pump and filter system (not shown) is connected to inlet pipe 20 (see FIGURE 2).

The present invention weir assembly serves to skim the surface of the water in the pool while the pump is in operation, thus serving to keep the surface free of debris and scum. The lweir assembly in accordance with the presently preferred embodiment of this invention may best ybe seen in FIGURE 4.

The weir assembly 25 includes a weir plate 27 preferably of a plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride. Secured to the plate 27 is a float 28 preferably made ,of a porous material such as polyester foam to thus provide a large surface to volume ratio. The plate 27 at its rearward edge terminates in a slot provided in a cylindrical plastic tube 36 which also may be made of polyvinyl chloride. Alternatively, the plate and tube may be integrally formed. The float 28 is joined to the plate by a plastic cement and the plate may also be joined to the tube 30 by cement if not made integral therewith. In the latter instance the slot is of a size to result in a tight fit between it and the weir plate.

An expandable rod serves as the pivot for the Weir plate 27. The rod 35 includes two separate plasticcylindrical members 36 and 37 joined by a compressible bronze spring 38. The O.D. of the rod 35 is Imade smaller than the LD. of the tube 30 so that the rod may be inserted therewithin and be free to have the tube 30 rotate thereabout. Rubber end caps 4U and 41 fit tightly over the ends of the rod 35. These end. caps have an O.D. which is slightly larger than the LD. of the tube 30 thereby preventing significant sidewise movement of the 'Weir plate. In addition the rubber end caps bear against opposed walls of the swimming pool skimmer pocket to thus determine and maintain the position of the weir assembly.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGURE 6, the end caps 40 and d1 may be eliminated. In a pocket of the type shown in FIGURE 6, there are instead dimple openings 60` and 61 provided in the side Walls of the pocket to receive the ends of the rod. These openings may be either merely metal bases or they may be detented or the like.

The Weir 2S is placed within the pocket P defined` by side walls and 46, lower ledge 47, `bottom 48 and back wall fri-9. The pocket is just below the coping 12 and communicates with the water in the pool. The two end caps lil and 41 bear against opposed walls 415 and 46 and the entire assembly is positioned as shown in FIGURE 2 so that the tube 3@ is just above the lledge 47. The pocket has a substantial depth below the ledge 47 to define a well having a bottom 48.

In operation, the normal water level of the pool is maintained abve the ledge 47. In order to remove the scum and debris from the surface of the water in the pool, the surface tension must be broken and a flow established in the direction of the pocket P. Extending from the bottom 48 of the pocket P is a pipe 20 which communicates with the intake side Iof a pump, not shown. When the Water is at the normal level, as shown by line 39 in FIG- URES 1 and 2, the plate 27 and its associated float 28 will be in the intermediate position shown in phantom in FIG- URE 2 as the float 27 is buoyed up by the water in the pocket. The surface of the Weir plate 27 will thus extend slightly above the water level; preventing return to the pool of scum and debris previously drawn into the pocket by the suction action of the pump. As the water level in the pocket falls the float will drop to the position as indicated by the dark lines 39a in FIGURE 2. When the water level of the pool is above normal, as indicated by the broken line 39b, the oat will cause the Weir assembly to assume the uppermost position shown in phantom in FIGURE 2.

The wall 11 is perpen- Skimming action will take place regardless of the posi- ;ion of the Weir plate so long as some water is present Ln the well within the pocket P. When the pump is in peration, the water level within the pocket is at tirst `lowered as the pump withdraws water. But upon a lowering of the water level within the pocket the weir plate will float at a lower level allowing more water into the pocket. The ilowing water will cascade over the edge of the Weir plate opposite the pivot edge causing a flow of scum and debris from the pool into the pocket and thence through pipe 20 to the lter where it is removed.

When the pump is turned off, the water level within the pocket will return to normal, i.e., to that of the water in the pool and the weir plate will serve as a barrier to the return of debris within the pocket to keep it from returning into the pool.

In FIGURE there is shown an alternate embodiment of the present invention. In particular, a rod Si! is employed in place of rod 35 as shown in FIGURE 4. The rod 50 consists of a central member SZ and extension 53. These two members are threadably joined together by adjustable coupling 55. Thus, the length of the rod may be adjusted by turning the coupling 55. Attached to opposite ends Vof the rod 50 are bearing members 5S and 59 which are preferably made of brass. They are pointed at the ends so as to enable them to securely bite into the tile on opposite sides of the pocket to pivotally secure the weir.

In FIGURE 6 the rod is shown seated within openings 60 and 61 in the opposed side walls of the pocket, thus eliminating the need for the end caps 40 and 4l.

There has thus been described an improved Weir assembly for a swimming pool. j It will be understood that various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the spring member 38 need not necessarily be centrally located as shown in FIGURE 4 and the spring may be employed in the FIGURE 5 embodiment while the coupling of FIGURE 5 may be used in the FIGURE 4 embodiment.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for skimming debris from the surface of water in a swimming pool comprising:

(a) a pocket provided in a wall of the swimming pool having an upper opening communicating the pocket and the pool, said pocket further defining opposed side walls substantially perpendicular to said upper opening;

. (b) -a weir plate extending transversely across said opening in said pocket;

(c) an expandable rod extending between said opposed side walls, said weir plate being pivotally supported by said rod;

(d) and float means integral with said weir plate and `disposed in and buoyed by the water in the pocket and responsive to a diiference of water level in the pocket relative to the water level in the pool to raise and lower the Weir plate on its pivot to thereby continuously skim the upper surface of the water in the pool.

2. An apparatus for skimming debris from the surface of water in a swimming pool comprising:

(a) a pocket provided in a wall of the swimming pool having an upper opening communicating the pocket and the pool, said pocket further dening opposed side walls substantially perpendicular to said upper opening;

(b) `a weir plate extending transversely across said opening in said pocket;

(c) an expandable rod extending between said opposed side walls, said weir plate being pivotally supported by by said rod;

(d) and float means connected to said Weir plate and disposed in and buoyed by the water in the pocket and responsive to a difference of water level in the pocket relative to the water level in the pool to raise and lower the weir plate on its pivot to thereby coni tinuously skim the upper surface of the water in the pool.

3. An apparatus for skimming debris from the surface of water in a swimming pool comprising:

(a) a pocket provided in a wall of the swimming pool havin-g an upper opening communicating the pocket and the pool, said pocket further defining opposed side walls substantially perpendicular to said upper opening;

(b) a weir plate extending transversely across said opening in said pocket;

(c) an expandable rod extending between said opposed side walls, said weir plate being pivotally suported by said rod;

(d) and float means integral with said weir plate and disposed in and buoyed by the water in the pocket and responsive to a difference of water level in the pocket relative to the water level in the pool to raise and lower the Weir plate on its pivot to thereby continuously skim the upper surface of the water in the pool.

4. An apparatus for skimming debris from the surface of water in a swimming pool comprising:

(a) a pocket provided in a wall of the swimming pool having an upper opening communicating the pocket and `the pool, said pocket further defining opposed side walls substantially perpendicular to said upper opening;

(b) a Weir plate extending transversely across said opening in said pocket, said weir plate including (c) an integrally formed expandable rod support; an

expandable rod within said support extending between said opposed side walls and pivotally supporting said Weir plate;

(d) and float means connected to said weir plate and disposed in and buoyed by the water in the pocket and responsive to a difference `of water level in the pocket relative to the water level in the pool to raise and lower the Weir plate on its pivot to thereby continuously skim the upper surface of the water in the pool.

5. A swimming pool Weir comprising:

(a) an expandable rod adapted to be secured intermediate opposed side walls of a skimmer pocket communicating with the water in a swimming pool;

(b) a weir plate pivotally secured to said rod; and

(c) float means connected to said weir plate.

6. A swimming pool weir comprising:

(a) an expandable rod adapted to be secured intermediate opposed side walls of a skimmer pocket communicating with the water in a swimming pool;

(b) a Weir plate pivotally secured to said rod; and

(c) float means integral to said weir plate.

7. A swimming pool Weir comprising:

(a) an expandable rod adapted to be secured intermediate opposed side Walls of a skimmer pocket communicating with the water in a swimming pool, said rod including spring biasing means for urging said rod in pressure engagement with the side walls of said pocket;

(b) a weir plate pivotally secured to said rod; and

(c) oat means integral to said weir plate.

8. A swimming pool Weir comprising:

(a) an expandable rod adapted to be secured intermediate opposed side walls of a skimmer pocket ccmmunicating with the water in a swimming pool, said rod including adjustable coupling means for selectively adjusting the length thereof;

(b) a Weir plate pivotally secured to said rod; and

(c) float means integral to said Weir plate.

9. A unitary hinge assembly for a weir adapted for use with swimming pool circulating systems comprising an elongated bar and a weir member including means rotatably engaging the elongated bar, the weir member being freely rotatable around the bar and axially movable thereon, mounting means at the ends of the bar and. forming part of the bar whereby the bar may be mounted in a transverse position with the Weir having freedom to swing with respect to the bar, said mounting means comprising members at the ends of the elongated bar configured to be set directly against internal surfaces of a structure containing water which is to pass over the weir and held thereby with the Weir performing a skimming function, and means providing for variability of the force exerted by the said mounting members against said surfaces whereby installation of the assembly requires only manual positioning of it with said mounting members bearing against the said surfaces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,994 4/ 1916 Crump 211-105.6 1,639,551 8/1927 Booth 211-105.6 2,576,684 11/ 1951 Iaccarino. 2,725,989 12/1955 Burkey 211105.4 2,844,255 7/ 1958 Cavenah. 3,009,473 11/1961 Hennen 137-315 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner. 

5. A SWIMMING POOL WIER COMPRISING: (A) AN EXPANDABLE ROD ADAPTED TO BE SECURED INTERMEDIATE OPPOSED SIDE WALLS OF A SKIMMER POCKET COMMUNICATING WITH THE WATER IN A SWIMMING POOL; (B) A WEIER PLATE PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID ROD; AND (C) FLOAT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID WEIR PLATE. 